Circuit interrupter



Feb.' 23 ,1926. '1,574,531

C. D. AINSWORTH CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed Deo. 14, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.ff 72 s 20.25. Invenar'.

Feb. 23 1926. 1,574,531

c. D. AINSWORTH CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed'Deo. 14, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Jvezof; QM n Mh Feb. 23 192.6:a

c. D. AlNswoRTH CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER fnl/671221:.

Patented Feb. i926.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFlcE.

CHESTER. D. AINSWOBTH', or` woLLAs'roN, MAssAoHUsnrrs, ASSIGNOR, :BYMnsNn AssIGNmnNrs, 'ro coNDIT ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, FBOS- TON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER.

Application led December 14, 1921. Serial No. 522,227.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER D. Ainswon'rH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at lVollaston, in the county of N orfolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Circuit Interrupters, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric switches and has particular referenceto electricallyoperated oil switches adapted to be enclosed removably incells.

An object of this invention is generally to improve the construction andoperation of an electric switch of the type above set forth.

A further object is to improve the operating mechanism of the switch.

Certain features of this invention are claimed in my co-pendingapplications, Serial No. 535,220, filed February 9, 1922; Serial No.585,672, filed September 1, 1922; and Serial No. 522,228, filed December14, 1921.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation' of an electric switch embodying theinvention contained in an enclosing cell which isillustrated`diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the switch with the electrically-controlledoperating mechanism removed.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

. Fig. 4 is a front view. of the switch of Fig. 2 with the oilreceptacle partly broken vaway to illustrate the auxiliary contactmembers.v

Fi 5 'is a plan section along line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and illustrates moreparticularly the switch operating mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail illustrating the position of the operatingmechanism in the open condition of the switch.

.Fig 7 is an end View of the auxiliary contact members.

Fig. Sis a plan view ofv the movable switch member with the switch rodremoved.

Fig. 9 is a detail illustrating the manner of guiding the upper end ofthe movable switch member for vertical movement.

As here shown the switch embodying my invention includes the oilreceptacle" ,10 and the switch frame 11 `which comprises a cover for'said receptacle and is removably secured to the top thereof by thebolts 12. Said switch is adapted to be contained inthe cell A and besupported in position therein on the track 13. ceptacle is securedto-and supported upon the platform 14. Said platform is provided( withgrooved wheels 15 adapted to engage said track 13. rlhe switch may belocked removably in position in the cell by the bolt 16 carried by saidplatform 14 and which "is adapted to be threaded in an aperture in abracket 17 secured to the track 13.

rlhe switch is adapted normally to be operated byelectrically-controlled means and, while said operating means may bedisposed in any convenient relation with the switch, li'prefer to mountsaid operating means on the switch and as a component part of the switchunit.

For this purpose, the switch frame 11 is formed with the substantiallyverticallywdisposed end flange 18 to which the electricallycontrolledoperating mechanism 19 is adapted to be secured rigidly and removably.For certain purposes, l may secure said mechanism directly to saidflange and for other purposes, ll may interpose the adapter block 2Q'between said switch frame and mechanism.

rl'he electrically-controlled operating mechanism -19 is adapted to bedisposed externally of the cell while the switch is For this purpose theoil refadapted to be'contained entirelywithin the cell. A. plate 21 iscarried by said vadapter block 20 and is adapted to engage the oppositecell Wallsand form a part of the door of the cell. An upper door 22 mayrest removably upon said plate and a lower door 23 may hang removablyfrom said plate to 'enclose the lower portion of the cell.

.Said switch frame l1 is a dme-shaped casting and is adaptedto encloseand sup-l port the switch-operating mechanism. The

lower edge is formed .with a groove 25 in which the upper edge of theoil receptacle is received.

Stationary switch members 26, which include the insulators 27 andconducting rods 28, are carried by said frame and are secured thereto bythe clamps 26n and depend into the oil receptacle. The lower ends ofsaid switch members are passed through apertures in and are secured tothe insulating supporting bar 29 by the clamps 29a; and said bar issecured to the switch frame by the brackets 30.

The movable switch member 3l includes the insulatingrod 32 bearing theinverted brush-member 33 and auxiliary contact members hereinafter to bemore fully described at its lower end and has the threaded rod 34secured in its upper end.

(i' The switch herein illustrated is of the liipbreak type and themovable switch-member is moved upwardly to interrupt the circuit throughthe switch and downwardly to close-the circuit. v

The insulating rod 32 of said movable switch member is passed through anaperture in said supporting bar 29 and the uper end of saidswitch memberis guided or vertical movement in a straight line.

The guiding means include the two 4brackets 35 secured to saidsupporting bar l29 on opposite sides of the movable switch member; andsaid brackets are formed with the vertical slots 36 therein. A block 37is adjustably threaded on the rod 34 of said movable switch member andis held in position thereon, by the nut 38. Pins, here shown as shoulderscrews 39, are .passed through the slots 36 in said brackets 35 and arefixed in the o posite sides of said block. lSaid pins are a apted tofit.freely within said slots but without substantial lateral playtherein and serve to constrain the upper end of said movable switchmember to move in a line parallel to the slots.

An operating lever is arranged to move said movable switch memberbetween switchopen and closed positions,... Said lever comprises the twospaced arms and the integral rear connecting portion 51. Said rearportion is formed wlth. an ,aperture therethrough lthrough which a pivotpin 52 is passed; and the ends of said pin are extended through andjournalled in apertures in opposite walls ofthe switch frame. Said armsare extended on'o osite sides of one of said stationary switclimembersand the 'outer ends of said arms are, "disposed on opposite sides of theblock 37 carried ^by the movable switch members. The outer ends of saidarms are formed with the slots 54 and the pins 39 carried by said block37 are extended through said slots. It is obvious that as said arms aremoved about its pivot the movable switch member will be carried withthem.

An operating shaft 55` is journalled in suitable bearings in oppositeside walls of the switch frame 'above' said arms 50 and extends beyondsaid side walls on both sides thereof. Arms 56' are fixed to said shaftwithin the switch frame and links 57 are pivotally connected by thelpins 58 to the ends of lsaid arms and by the pins 59 to intermediateportions of said arms 50. Said arms 56 and links 57 constitute togglemembers by which the movable switch member is operated? and said togglemembers arc adapted to be moved nearly to an on-center position, asillustrated in Fig. 3, in the closed condition of the switch. p

A bumper 60 is adjustably secured, by means of the threaded rod 6l andcheck nut 62 to said arms 50 and is adapted to engage said operatingshaft 55 when the mova-A ble switch memberl and operatingmechanism ismoved into switch-open position and absorb the energy of movement andalso dcne the switch-open position of the movable switch member.

Downwardly depending arms 65 are fixed to each of the external ends ofsaid operatingshaft 55 'and are adapted to be c0nnected with a linkconnected with the electrically-controlled switch operating mechanism 19and also with springs by which the movable switch member is moved intovopen position. Said arms may also serve to keep the operating shaftagainst axial i displacement in the switch frame.

Dual means including springs are provided, each of which is arranged tofunction independently of the other to move the movable switch member toswitch-open osition. Said means include the rods 66 pivota-lly connectedby said pins 67 to said arms 65 intermediatexthe ends thereof. The freeends of said rods are slidably received in and supported by the brackets68 carried by the switch frame. Coil-'springs 69 are disposed over saidrods 66 between said brackets 68 and arms 65; and the outer ends of saidsprings bear against said brackets. Check nuts 7() are adjustablythreaded on the inner ends of. said rods adjacent said arms 65, and theother ends of said springs bear Yagaint said nuts.

It will be apparent that said springs tend constantly to move and retainthe movable switch member yieldingly in 'switch-open position and willbelcoinpressed by the action of the electrically-controlled operatinmechanism in moving the movable switc member into switch closedposition. The arrangement of dual springs disposed at the opposite endsof the operating shaft 55 is advantageous in that the turning movementof one ,spring is counterbalanced byl the other spring. Each springalone is adapted vto counterbalance the weight of the operatingmechanism and movable switch member and cause the opening of the switchand two' springs provide increased assurance of reliability ofoperation. The disposition of the springs on the outside of the switchcasing is advantageous in that the springs may be under constantobservation and failure of the switch to operate due to spring breakagemay be guarded against.

Said arms 65 are extended beyond the nemesi.'

pivotal .connections of the spring rods 6d therewith and are providedwith apertures Tl by which said arms-are adapted lor connectlon with theelectricall -controlled operating mechanism 19. Ordinarily but one ofsaid arms 65 will be connected with the loperating mechanism but saidmechanism is so arranged that it may be operatively oonnected witheither one or both oi said arms.. As here shown, a link 72 is pivotallysecured to a pin 73 extended through an aperture 71 in one of said armsand is pivotally secured to a rocker-arm 71tof said operiating mechanism19. lt will be obvious that, as said arm is rocked in its bearings, saidswitch will be opened and closed..

The top wall of said switch frame is formed with an aperture disposedabove and vertically in line with the movable switch member and throughwhich. the brush tension of said member may be adjusted; md saidaperture is normally closed by the removable plate 75.

'lhc arrangement of the stationary and movable auxiliary contact membersherein illustrated is of im ortance; and the arrangement is such tratthe movable conu tact members tend to be drawn into more secureengagement with the stationaw contact members when 'the switch iscarrying relatively' high values oi current, instead of the usualtendency ot the commonA form of Vcontact members to separate under heavyby said bolts 86;

loads.

rlhe brush member 33 is secured to the member 80 having the upwardlyextended ears81. The switch rod 32 is disposed between and securedpivotally to said ears by the pin 82. Said member 80 is adapted to carrya frame which sup rts the auxiliary contact members. Said ame includesthe two bars Sli which are secured to the ears 81 of said member 8O andare reflexed out-= wardlyimto provide the end portions 84m which "hreextended laterally beyond the brush member. .Flexible members 85 aresecured to the ends oi? said bars 8d by the bolts 86 and extendeddownwardly beyond the brush member; and auxiliary contact members 87 aresecured removably to the lower ends ot said members. Side tiemembers 88are secured to the iiexible members on the same side of the brushmember, also and end tie members serve to connect the ends of said bars8d, whereby rigidly to support the auxiliary contact members inposition.

'lhc stationary auxiliary contact members are carried by the members 90which are securbd to the under side of the main oontact blocks 91 of thestationary switch members. Said members are formed with the vdownwardlyand outwardly reiiexed endnortions 90E. The auxiliary contact mem= berscomprise the plates 92, which may be somewhat exible, if desired, andsaid lates the contact blocks 91, and slides in engagement with saidplates, and the iiexiblc members 85 are iiexed outwardly whilemaintaining the engagement of the auxiliary contact members, asillustrated in l? ig. d.

l/V ith this arrangement of auxiliary con` tact members, the magneticedect of a high value of current in the circuit controlled by the switchis to tend to press the contact members into a more firm engagement thanthat resulting trom the spring pressure of said resilient members 85alone.

A long wiping engagement oi the contact members is obtained and themovable switch member attains av considerable speed of opening after themain current-carrying members have separated and before the auxiliarycontact members have separated so that, when said auxiliary contactmembers are nally separated, the arc may be rapidly extinguished and thecircuit-interrupting capacity of the switch is thereby enhanced.

The invention may be contained in other modications without departingfrom the spirit thereof.

l claim:

l.. An electric switch including a casing comprising an oil receptacleand a switch frame comprising a cover for the oil receptacle, movableand stationary switch members and operating mechanism disposed withinthe casing and supported by said switch trame, said operating kmechanismincluding an operating shaft pivotally supported by said switch :trameand extended therethrough, electrically-operated switchoperatingmechanism supported externally on said switch iframe, and anoperatingmember connecting said electrically operan ed mechanism and theextended end oi said shaft.

2.. An electric switch including a casing comprising an oil receptacleand a switch frame comprising a cover for the oil receptacle, 'movableand stationary switch members and operating mechanism disposed withinthe casing and supported by said switch trame, said operating mechanismincluding an operating shaft pivotally supported by said switch frameand extended therethrough, electrically-operated switchoperatingmechanism supported externally on said switch frame, an arm fixed to anextended end of said shaft, and means including a connecting rodconnecting said electrically-operated mechanism and said arm.

3. An electric switch including a casing having aligned apertures formedin the opposite side walls thereof, stationary and movable switchmembers disposed within thecasing, operating mechanism disposed withinsaid casing including an operating shaft journalled in. the apertures insaid casing and' extended externally beyond the side walls thereof inboth directions, arms ixed to the extended ends ot' said shaftexternally ofTJ the casing, electrically-operated switch-operatingmechanism supported externally on said casing, means including aconnecting rod connecting said electricallyoperated mechanism with oneof said arms7 and a spring connecting said other arm and said casing.

a. An up-break electric switch including a casing, stationary andmovable switch members disposed within the casing, operating mechanismdisposed within said casing and arranged tolmovethe movable switchmember upward to open the switch and having a member extended externallyof. the casing, and a switch opening spring carried externally by thecasing and connected with said extended member to bias the movableswitch member for upward movement..

5. An 11p-break electric switch including a casing, stationary andmovable switch members disposed within the casing, operating mechanismdisposed within said casing and arranged to move the movable switchmember upward to open the switch and having a `member extendedexternally orn the casing, and a switch-opening spring horizontallydisposed externally of the casing and carried thereby and having mea-nsconnecting it loosely with said extended member to bias the movableswitch member for upward movement.

G. An up-brealt electric switch including a casing, stationary andmovable switch members disposed within the casing, operating mechanismdisposed within said casing and arranged to move the movable switchmember upward to open the switch and having a member extended externallyof the casing7 and dual switch opening springs carried externally by thecasing and having independent connections with said extended member,each of said springs arranged to act independently to open the switch.

7. An 11p-break electric switch including a casing, stationary andmovable switch. members disposed within the casing, operating mechanismdisposed within said casmg and arranged to move the movable switchmember upward to open the switch and .having a member extendedexternally of the casing on opposite sides thereof, and

amasar two switch-opening springs supported externally of the casing onopposite sides thereof, and means independently connecting said springswith said extended member.

8. An 11p-break 'electric switch including a casing, stationary andmovable switch members and operating mechanism disposed within thecasing, said operating mechanism arranged to move the movable switchmember upward to open the switch and having a member extended externallyoie. the casing and a mechanism eounterbalancing compression springsupported externally by the casing and operatively connected with saidextended member.

9. An electric switch including stationary and movable switch members,operating; mechanism, a casing enclosing the at'oresaid elements, anddual devices including springs associated with said mechanism andsupported externally of said casing and each independently arranged tobias said mechanism for switch-opening movement.

lO. An Lip-break electric switch including a casing, stationary andmovable switch members and operating mechanism disposed withinthecasing, said operating mechanism arranged to move said movable switchmember upward to open the switch and inciuding an operating shat'textended horizontally through a wall of the casing, an arm fixed to saidshaft externally of the casing. and a switch-opening compression springcarried externally by said casing and having an operating connectionwith said arm.

l1. An electric switch including a casing, stationary and movable switchmembers and operating mechanism dis osed within the casing, saidoperating mec ianism having an operating member extended through a sidewall externally oi' the casing, and switchopening .means carriedexternally by said casing including a rod having one end pivotallyconnected with said operating member and its other end slidablysupported, and a spring encircling said rod having one end thereof inengagement with said rod and its other end in engagement. with saidcasing.

l2. An electric switch including a casing, stationary and movable switchmembers and operating mechanism dis osed within the casing, saidoperating n'iec anism having an operating sha't extended throughapertures in opposite side walls of the casing, arms xed to the ends ofsaid shaft externally on opposite sides ot' the casing, and dualswitchopening means carried externally by the casing, eachswitch-operatingmeans including a rod pivotally connected with one ofsaid arms, a bracket fixed to said casing in which the other end ot saidrod is. slidably supported, and a springencircling said rod and bearingaga-inst said rod and said bracket.

13. An electrically-operated electric switch lll) including an oilreceptacle, a switch frame, comprising a cover for said oil receptacle,stationary and movable switch carried by said frame and depending intosaid oil receptacle, switch-operating mechenism carried by and disposedWithin said frame, and an operating coil including an armature disposedexternally on and carried by said frame, and. means connecting saidl0\a,rmeture with said enclosed operating A4 mechanism.

members 14. An electrically-operated electric switch comprisingthecombination of a closed reeeptacle, stationary and movable switchmembers enclosed therein, and an operating 15 In testimony whereof, Ihave signed my )20 name to this specification.

CHESTER D. AIN SWORTH.

